Combination ironing-board and step-ladder.



A. P. DULGBROPF.

COMBINATION IRONING BOARD AND STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 1914.

um/Mow H PDuLeERo F Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHDTU-LITHQ, WASHING TON. r). C

ATANAS PETER DULGEROFF, OF GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS.

COMBINATIGN IRONING-BOARD AND STEP-LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914..

Application filed April 27, 1914. Serial No. 834,815.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, A'rANAs Pn'rnn DUL-onnorr, a citizen of Bulgaria, residing at Granite City, in the countyof Madison and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Combination Ironing-Boards and Step-Ladders, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in combinedironing boards and step ladders, and an object thereof is the provisionof a device of this character which may be quickly set up for use eitheras an ironing board or as a step ladder.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter in which the ironing board and step ladder are pivotallyconnected together, the device including improved means for supportingeither the board or ladder in a position for use.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a combinedstep ladder and ironing board, in which means are provided for lockingthe device either in a position for use as a step ladder or as anironing board.

l Vith these and other objects in view, my invention consists in thenovel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to behereinafter more fully described, claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device in set up position for use asa step ladder; Fig, 2 is a side elevation of the device set up inposition for use as an ironing board; Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereofin folded position; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4:4: of Fig.3; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates an1ron1ng board of the usual construction which is tapered from its innerend to its outer end, the inner end of the board having a pair ofdiverging slots 2 formed therein. Secured to the inner face of the board1 is a plate 3. the plate extending trasversely of the board and beingformed on its opposite ends with trunnions l -for engagement in the sidebars of a ladder 6, whereby the ladder is pivotally connected to theboard. The ladder comprises the usual steps 7 and the top shelf 8, theplate 3 projecting outwardly beyond the outer edges of the side bars ofthe ladder and forming the upper step thereof. Pivotally connectedadjacent its inner end to each of the side bars of the ladder, is asupporting leg 9, the legs being connected at their outer ends by across bar 10. The side bar-s5 of the ladder extend the entire length ofthe board 1, and the slots 2 in the board extend from the inner endthereof to a point adjacent the plate 3 so that the inner ends of thebars 5 may project upwardly through the slots 2 when it is desired touse the device as an ironing board, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings. The opposite ends of the projecting portion of the plate 3extend outwardly from the opposite sides of the ladder to form stops 11.

hen the device is used as an ironing board, the board 1 is disposed in ahorizon tal position and the outer end of the ladder 1s swupg downwardlyto engage'the floor below the outer end of the board, and the supportinglegs 9 are also swung downwardly to engage the floor under the inner endof the board, the movement of the legs being limited by their engagementwith the stops 11 of the plate 3. Vvith the lower or outer end of theladder engaged with the floor, the upper ends of the side bars thereofproject through the slots 2 so that the upper ends thereof are disposedabove the inner end of the board 1, and formed in the inner edge of eachof the side bars of the ladder adjacent its upper extremity, is anangular recess 12 which forms a seat for the locking bar 13. The lockingbar 13 is pivotally connected at one end to the upper face of the board1 to one side of the ladder, and connected to the opposite side of theboard is a keeper plate 14, so that when the locking bar is swunginwardly so that the free end thereof is engaged with its keeper plate,the body portion of the bar engages in the seats 12 provided in theedges of the side bars of the ladder to prevent the upper ends of theside bars from moving downwardly which will collapse the device. Itwillbe seen that the engagement of the upper ends of the portions of theside bars of the ladder above the board with the locking bar maintainsthe board in a horizontal position and prevents the outer end thereoffrom moving downwardly, the upper ends of the supporting legs 9 alsoengaging the under face of the board forwardly of its pivotal point tofurther brace the same against downward movement. Upward swinging of theouter end of the board is prevented by reason of the engagement of thestops 11 with the inner edges of the supporting legs 9 and when thevarious parts of the device are in this position and locked by thelocking member 13, it

will be seen that an ironing board is provided which is supportedrigidly in a horizontal plane. If desired, the locking bar 13 may beenlarged intermediate of its ends as at 15, to carry a plate of asbestos16 or other similar non-conducting material upon which the pressing iron(not shown) which is used in connection with the ironing board, may besupported so as not to burn the board.

hen it is desired to use the device as an ordinary step ladder, theinner end of the board and the upper ends of the side bars of the ladderare swung upwardly, the lower extremities of the side bars formingfulcrum points until the free edge of the ironing board engages thefloor and, in this position, the ironing board extends vertically, andthe ladder is inclined from its lower end to its upper end, the ladderand board being held in their respective positions by the locking bar13. When the device is used as a step ladder, the legs 9 are swungdownwardly, the connecting member 10 of the legs engaging the edges ofthe side bars of the ladder below one of the steps thereof as shown inFig. 1 of the drawings, so that the legs are disposed in the samelongitudinal plane as the side bars, out of the way of the person usingthe step ladder. It will be seen that spreading of the board and theladder in this position is prevented by the engagement of the edges ofthe side bars of the ladder with the inner walls of the slots 2, andclosing of these parts is prevented by the engagement of the locking bar13 in the seats 12 in the side bars.

Then the device is not desired for use, the same may be folded intocompact form by merely swinging the free end of the lock ing barupwardly on its pivot, so as to re move the bar from engagement in therecesses 12 in the side bars of the ladder, whereupon the inner edges ofthe side bars may be moved against the inner face of the board, so thatthe various parts of the device are compactly folded together. The edgesof the side bars of the ladder opposite the recesses 12 formed therein,have secured thereto laterally extending loops 17, which project throughthe slots 2 in the board when the device is in folded position, so thatthe locking bar may be swung inwardly to cross the slots 2, and engagethe outermost portions of the loops 1'? which are disposed flush withthe outer face of the ironing board, thereby locking the various partsof the device in folded position.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawsitions when the device is used in either manner, itbeing merely necessary to swing the device upwardly, using the lower eX-tremities of the side bars of the ladder as fulcrums when it is desiredto change the device from an ironing board to a step lad der, or toswing the upper end of the device downwardly on the lower ends of theside bars of the ladder when it is desired to change the device from aladder to an ironing board, the legs 9 supporting the ironing board in ahorizontal position. Itwill also be readily seen that the samelockingmeans locks the ironing board and step ladder in their open positions,and in their folded positions so that the device is rigidly locked inany of its positions.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I desire to claim andsecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a board having slots formed therein extendinginwardly from the inner end of the board, of. a step ladder having itsside bars pivotally connected to the board, the inner ends of said sidebars being adapted for engagement through the slots in said board, andmeans carried by the board for engagement be tween the same and theedges of the projecting portions of the bars, to maintain the inner endsof said bars within the slots.

2. The combination with a board having a transversely extending plateconnected thereto adjacent its inner end, the board having slots formedtherein extending from the inner end of the board to points adjacentsaid plate, a step ladder having its side bars pivotally connected tothe opposite ends of said plate, the inner ends of said side bars beingadapted for engagement through the slots in said board, the projectingportions ofsaid bars having angular recesses formed in one edge, and alocking plate pivotally connected to the board for engagement in therecesses in said side bars to hold the same within the slots in saidboard,

3. The combination with a board having a transversely extending plateconnected thereto adjacent its inner end, the board having slots formedtherein extending from the inner end of the boa-rd to points adjacentsaid' plate, a step ladder havingits side bars pivotally connected tothe opposite ends of said plate, the outer end of said plate beingenlarged to project beyond the outer faces of said sidebars, the innerends; of. said side bars being adaptedfor engagement through the slotsin said board, means for maintaining the inner ends of said side barswithin said slots, and supporting legs pivotally connected to the outerfaces of said side bars adjacent said plate, said supporting legs beingadapted for engagement with the projecting portions of said plate whenin their extended position.

4. The combination with a board having slots formed therein extendinginwardly from one end of the board, a step ladder having its side barspivotally connected to the board, the inner ends of said side bars beingadapted to project through the slots in the board when the step ladderis in extended position, means carried by the board for engagementbetween the same and the edges of the projecting portions of the sidebars to hold the step ladder in extended position, projections formedupon the inner edges of said side bars to extend through the slots whensaid step ladder is in folded position, the first mentioned means beingadapted to engage said projections to hold the step ladder in foldedposition.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

ATANAS PETER DULGEROFF. lVitnesses CHAS. L. DRAPER, N FLEISHMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. O.

